by Nicole Auerbach, USA TODAY Sports

by Nicole Auerbach, USA TODAY Sports

DURHAM, N.C. - Thanks to a fortuitously timed business trip to Chicago last month, Grant Hill got to see his alma mater play in one of its biggest games of the season.

In a matchup pitting top-five teams against one another, Duke ultimately fell to Kansas in the game's final moments. But the game would be remembered most for introducing the nation to two future NBA stars: Duke's Jabari Parker and Kansas's Andrew Wiggins.

Parker secured himself a spot on the highlight reel with a monstrous alley-oop dunk early in the second half. Within minutes, people on social media produced a side-by-side comparison of Parker's dunk and Hill's from the 1991 national championship game â?? also against Kansas. Fans began tweeting the photos to Hill.

"I wasn't thinking it immediately when I saw it in Chicago," Hill told USA TODAY Sports. "But I when I saw the photo, I guess the similar haircuts â?¦ I was more shocked that I actually could jump that high at one time.

"Man, I really could jump. I can't do that anymore." Hill laughed.

Parker and his versatile style of play have drawn all sorts of comparisons over the years. There was that Sports Illustrated cover a few years back, calling him the best high school basketball player since LeBron James. Because he hails from Chicago and went to Simeon Career Academy, Parker often gets asked about following Derrick Rose's footsteps. Lately, writers and fans have likened Parker's game to that of Paul Pierce's and Carmelo Anthony's.

But here at Duke, one name keeps coming up: Hill. (And it's not just because of that dunk vs. Kansas.)

Hill's collegiate career included back-to-back national championships, the latter featuring a 75-foot inbounds pass to Christian Laettner against Kentucky in the regional final that will forever be etched in college basketball lore. Hill was a consensus first-team All-American before being drafted No. 3 overall in the 1994 NBA draft. Duke has retired his No. 33.

"Grant is like the gold standard," Duke assistant coach Jeff Capel said. "I think Grant's the best player to ever play here."

What does that say about Parker, the freshman just 10 games into his collegiate career who's drawing this comparison? Well for starters, a lot about his off-court persona.

"There are some (similarities)," Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "First of all, the type of young man they are. Exquisite. Great parents. Strong values. Good student. Team guy. A lot of comparisons in that regard.

"As far as a player, they're different players â?? even though they keep showing his dunk. Grant was more of a guard. Jabari could actually play everywhere. Grant was not an inside player. Grant is the most graceful player I coached in college. Jabari could end up being very powerful. He has grace, don't get me wrong, but Jabari is bigger than Grant."

Parker is listed as a 6-8, 235-pound forward, though, as his coaches said, he shouldn't be defined by any one position. That versatility is what makes folks think of Hill.

Duke's coaching staff is working with Parker to develop his post game, which could ultimately make him a matchup nightmare. If teams are forced to double Parker inside (while still respecting his outside game), it'll free up teammates along the perimeter â?? something the Blue Devils took advantage of when playing Michigan. Guard Quinn Cook was the main beneficiary, scoring 24 points.

Throughout the season's first month, Parker has dazzled from the perimeter, draining threes that Hill doesn't think he could have made as a freshman. Parker has gone coast-to-coast for dunks, and he's shown progress playing in the post. He's averaging 22.1 points and 7.8 rebounds a game.

"He can impact the game in so many different ways," Capel said. "For him, it's about learning all those different ways. I think that's one of the reasons he chose Duke. Our system, our style offensively, is not the same. It changes based on the talent we have. When you have a special talent like him, you don't want to put that in a box."

Neither did Duke when it had Hill.

Hill is considered a better defender than Parker, but Parker is still growing in that area. Krzyzewski said he believes Parker will be able to defend every position in college because "he's got great feet." Another area for improvement is precision.

Krzyzewski wants Parker to work on his positioning before he receives the ball, which will set him up for higher-percentage shots. Capel hopes Parker can diversify his already versatile skill set by learning from other players' strengths.

Capel asked a video coordinator to put together clips of Hill, Luol Deng, Mike Dunleavy and Shane Battier, all former Duke players. "The guys who have kind of played that position - it's not a defined position," Capel said. "It's just versatility. Each of those guys had unique talents. I said, 'You should be a mix of all these guys.' "

Over Labor Day weekend, Hill came down to Durham to play a little pickup ball. He spoke with Parker a bit and exchanged contact info. If Parker needed any advice, he'd be available for him, but he's not sure he'll be needed. "He's in a good spot," Hill said. "He's got the right people around him."

So for now, the relationship between Hill and Parker will mostly be confined to bars and coffee table discussions.

"With the dunk and the versatility, I can see where people make the comparison â?? and I'm flattered," Hill said. "Shoot. Hey, if you want to compare me to him that's great. I think he's sensational.

"He's Jabari. He's a guy who has an amazing skill set, can do a number of things and the beauty is he's still learning. â?¦ I do certainly enjoy watching him play."